Author
On sites where items are posted under user names but not necessarily proper names, enter the user name where you would normally put the author's name. Author in this case will be the main creator(s) for the item you are citing.
Creator information may often be found under a section called "About" for some types of social media, however this is not always standard.
Date
Most items will provide a date they were posted. The standard format for the date is Year, Month Day.
If only part of the date is provided, post what you have such as the year and skip the rest of the date.
If no date is provided, use the initials n.d. where you would normally put the date.
Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.
A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.
Author's Last Name, First intial. Second Initial if Given. or Username if real name not provided. (Year blog post was published, Month Day). Title of blog post. Title of Blog. URL
| Example |
Dobbs, D. (2012, June 13). Fun in cities: Feature, not bug. Wired Science. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/ 2012/06/fun-in-cities-feature-not-bug/ Note: If the blog author's real name is not provided, use their username instead. |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Author's Last Name, Year) Example: (Dobbs, 2012) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Author's Last Name, Year, Section Heading section if given) Example: (Dobbs, 2012, para. 2) Note: This blog post has no section headings, so only a paragraph number is given in the citation. |
Name of Company/Organization/Creator [@Instagram username]. (n.d.). Title of the highlight [Highlight]. Instagram. Retrieved Month Day,
Year, from URL
Note: The date will always be (n.d.) for Instagram highlights because these pages are not archived and there are no visible publication, revision, modification, or similar dates.
| Example |
The New York Public Library [@nypl]. (n.d.). BookCoverDouble [Highlight]. Instagram. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17891413903502821/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Name of Company/Organization/Creator, n.d.) Example: (The New York Public Library, n.d.) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Name of Company/Organization/Creator, n.d.) Example: (The New York Public Library, n.d.) Note: Because images and videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers, or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Author last name, First initial. Second initial if given. [@Instagram username]. (n.d.). Title of the highlight [Highlight]. Instagram.
Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
Note: The date will always be (n.d.) for Instagram highlights because these pages are not archived and there are no visible publication, revision, modification, or similar dates.
| Example |
Johnson, A. [@ashleythejohnson]. (n.d.). 🎤 [Highlight]. Instagram. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17930179726165639/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Author last name, n.d.) Example: (Johnson, n.d.) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Author last name, n.d.) Example: (Johnson, n.d.) Note: Because images and videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers, or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Name of Company/Organization/Creator [@Instagram username]. (Year Instagram post was published, Month Day). Text of caption up to the
first twenty words [Photograph or Video]. Instagram. URL
Note: For the caption text, treat all links, emojis, hashtags, @usernames, etc. as one word.
| Example |
Critical Role [@criticalrole]. (2023, October 31). Today's #CandelaObscura Instagram Story Takeover starts now with the one, the only, @WillingBlam! Watch out for his adventures this Halloween [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEUUo_uL1-/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Name of Company/Organization/Creator, Year) Example: (Critical Role, 2023) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Name of Company/Organization/Creator, Year) Example: (Critical Role, 2023) Note: Because images and videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers, or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Author last name, First initial. Second initial if given. [@Instagram username]. (Year Instagram post was published, Month Day). Text of
caption up to the first twenty words [Photograph or Video]. Instagram. URL
Note: For the caption text, treat all links, emojis, hashtags, @usernames, etc. as one word.
| Example |
Swift, T. [@taylorswift]. (2023, August 9). Surprise!! 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is on its way to you 🔜! The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEUUo_uL1-/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Last Name, Year) Example: (Swift, 2023) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Last Name, Year) Example: (Swift, 2023) Note: Because images and videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers, or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Name of the company/organization. [@Instagram username]. (n.d.). Profile page name [Instagram profile]. Instagram.
Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
Note: The date will always be (n.d.) for Instagram profiles because these pages are not archived and there are no visible publication, revision, modification, or similar dates.
| Example |
Paramore. [@paramore]. (n.d.). Posts [Instagram profile]. Instagram. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/paramore/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Name of company/organization, n.d.) Example: (Paramore, n.d.) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Name of company/organization, n.d.) Example: (Paramore, n.d.) Note: Because Instagram profiles typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers, or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Author last name, First initial. Second initial if given. [@Instagram username]. (n.d.). Profile page name [Instagram profile]. Instagram.
Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
Note: The date will always be (n.d.) for Instagram profiles because these pages are not archived and there are no visible publication, revision, modification, or similar dates.
| Example |
Bailey, L. [@laurabaileyvo]. (n.d.). Reels [Instagram profile]. Instagram. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/laurabaileyvo/reels/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Last Name, n.d.) Example: (Bailey, n.d.) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Last Name, n.d.) Example: (Bailey, n.d.) Note: Because Instagram profiles typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers, or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Name of Company that created the application or Creator's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given (Year current version of the application was released). Name of application (Version version number if given) [Mobile application software]. Publisher Name or App Store. URL application was downloaded from.
Note: Only cite software and apps when they are not widely known or available. Citations are not needed for common apps such as Microsoft Word or Twitter.
| Example |
National Geographic Society (2012). National parks by National Geographic (Version 1.2) [Mobile app]. App Store. http://www.apple.com/itunes/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Name of Company or Author's Last Name, Year) Example: (National Geographic Society, 2012) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Name of Company or Author's Last Name, Year) Example: (National Geographic Society, 2012) Note: Because apps typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings,this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Director/Producer/Host's Last Name, First intial. Second Initial if Given. (Role in the production e.g. Host, Director, Producer) (Year podcast was released, Month Day if given). Title of podcast episode: Subtitle if given (episode number if known) [Audio podcast episode]. In Title of Podcast. Publisher. URL if known
| Example |
Rogers, S. (Host). (2012, June 18). Richard Wagamese: Children's book panel (No. 225) [Audio podcast episode]. In The Next Chapter. CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/thenextchapter/episode/2012/06/18/richard-wagamese-bookworm-childrens-book-panel/ |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Director/Producer/Host's Last Name, Year) Example: (Rogers, 2012) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Director/Producer/Host's Last Name, Year) Example: (Rogers, 2012) Note: Because podcasts do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings,this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. of person who posted the video if known. [User name that posted the video] . (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Streaming Service. URL
Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.
| Example |
Nye, B. [TheRealBillNye]. (2009, April 8). Bill Nye the science guy on energy [Video]. You Tube. http://youtu.be/0ASLLiuejAo |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Creator's Last Name, Year) Example: (Nye, 2009) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Creator's Last Name, Year) Example: (Nye, 2009) Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings,this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
User name that posted the video. (Year video was posted, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Name of Streaming Service. URL
Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.
| Example |
All Aces Media. (2012, January 19). Often awesome the series [Video]. Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/35311255 |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(User name, Year) Example: (All Aces Media, 2012) |
| In-Text Quote |
(User name, Year) Example: (All Aces Media, 2012) Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings,this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Name of Company/Organization that Provided Content or Creator's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. if known. (Director). (Year video was created, Month Day if known). Title of video [Video]. Name of Streaming Service.
| Example |
Owen, D. (Director). (1967). The Ernie game [Video]. NFB Education. |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Name of Company/Organization/Creator, Year) Example: (Owen, 1967) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Name of Company/Organization, Year) Note: Because videos typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings,this information is left out of the in-text citation. |
Author last name, First initial. Second initial if given [@Twitter user name]. (Year tweet was posted, Month Day). Text of post up to the first twenty words [Tweet]. Twitter. URL
| Example |
Giridharadas, A. [@AnandWrites]. (2020, January 17). The fallacy of our age is that we can lift up those down below without interfering with those standing [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/AnandWrites/status/1218203291982749697 Note: Write out the actual text of the post in the citation and keep spelling, capitalization, and grammar the same as in the original, even if there are errors. Include any emojis that are present. If there is multimedia content note it in square brackets after the post (eg. [Video]). |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Last name, Year) Example: (Giridharadas, 2020) Note: if there is no author last name, use the name of the account as you would with a group author. |
| In-Text Quote |
(Twitter user name, Year) Example: (Giridharadas, 2020) Note: Because tweets do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings,this information is left out of the in-text citation. |